Ranch Water in an air conditioned bar? Meh. Ranch Water outside on a hot day? Oh yeah.
Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Previously, we’ve folded these in to our betting guides, whether that’s been for the NFL slate or a bizarrely successful run through the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.
My experience with Ranch Water is limited, but I can safely say this: Your enjoyment will weigh on how hot it is outside. The 80-calorie West Texas hard seltzer delivers on every promise the can makes. There are bubbles, there’s a little bit of lime and there’s enough agave to suggest the tequila of the drink’s cocktail inspiration, even if the two feel like distant cousins.
But Ranch Water goes much lighter than its seltzer colleagues. This is either a feature or a bug. Inside an air conditioned bar, it’s not going to give you much more utility than a club soda. That makes it a proper pause in between bigger drinks or a slight incline for anyone looking to avoid the mountain climbing of party liquors.
Outside on a sunny day? That’s where Ranch Water shines. These cans are straight-up refreshing when you push the hot-versus-cold contrast. Let’s talk about each primary flavor.
